User-modifiable interactive display of placement channel and status data

ABSTRACT

The technology disclosed provides systems and methods that display database objects representing entities, placement channels and workflow status in an insurance or other risk transfer program. Specially coded distribution trees and graphs of nodes represent the overall flow and, optionally, status of placement workflows. Node and edge data generated for display depicts multiple risk placements on behalf of at least one requesting party through intermediaries to responding parties. Line width of edges represents calculated relative size of placements, and pattern, style, and color of edges can depict statuses of the risk placements. Another geo-coded map display also depicts as nodes a requesting party, intermediaries and responding parties, connected by edges that represent communication channels. The disclosed technology includes transmitting the resulting node and edge data and the edge annotation data to a user device for display of an overall workflow status, enabling assessment of alternative placement strategies.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/689,674, entitled, “DATABASE SYSTEM AND OBJECT MANIPULATIONREPRESENTING PLACEMENT LAYERS AND PARTS,” filed on Apr. 17, 2015 (Atty.Docket No. JKLY 1000-1). That application is hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The subject matter discussed in this section should not be assumed to beprior art, as the only information provided relates to the field oftechnology. Similarly, a problem mentioned in this section or associatedwith the subject matter provided as background should not be assumed tohave been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter inthis section merely represents different approaches, which in and ofthemselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimedtechnology.

The technology disclosed provides systems and methods that allow aknowledgeable user to modify interactively the display of databaseobjects representing entities, placement channels and workflow status.Specially coded trees and graphs of nodes represent the overall flowand, optionally, status of placement workflows. A knowledgeable user canquickly understand, from the disclosed new display type, an overallworkflow status, assess alternative placement strategies, and modify thedisplay of such database objects interactively.

SUMMARY

A simplified summary is provided herein to help enable a basic orgeneral understanding of various aspects of exemplary, non-limitingimplementations that follow in the more detailed description and theaccompanying drawings. This summary is not intended, however, as anextensive or exhaustive overview. Instead, the sole purpose of thissummary is to present some concepts related to some exemplarynon-limiting implementations in a simplified form as a prelude to themore detailed description of the various implementations that follow.

The disclosed method includes generating node and edge data for displaythat depicts multiple risk placements on behalf of at least onerequesting party through intermediaries to responding parties. In adistribution tree display, a requesting party is depicted as arequesting party node in a first region. At least two intermediaries aredepicted as intermediary nodes in a second region adjoining the firstregion. The requesting party node is graphically connected by edges withthe intermediary nodes. At least two responding parties are depicted asresponding party nodes in a third region adjoining the second region andspaced apart from the first region; and the intermediary nodes aregraphically connected by edges with the responding party nodes to depictrelationships between the intermediaries and respective respondingparties. Requesting parties sometimes communicate with the respondingparties through the intermediary brokers. Another geo-coded map displayalso depicts as nodes a requesting party, intermediaries and respondingparties, connected by edges that coincide with communication channels.

The disclosed technology includes edge annotation data generated fordisplay: line width of the edges can represent calculated relative sizeof placements. Pattern, style, and color of edges can depict statuses ofthe risk placements through the intermediaries and with the respondingparties. The disclosed technology includes transmitting the resultingnode and edge data and the edge annotation data to a user device fordisplay.

The technology disclosed includes a tangible computer readable storagemedium that stores program instructions for graphically displayingdistribution through placement channels for multiple placements,including representing multiple risk placements in a multi-tiered datamodel of one or more requesting parties, multiple intermediaries, andmultiple responding parties in a first tier, with one or more of theresponding parties that assume risk being treated, in a second tier, asrequesting parties for a ceded risk.

The disclosed data model tracks risk placement parameters that specifyamounts of risk ceded by at least some of responding parties to secondtier responding parties; and the data model tracks status of the riskplacements in the first tier.

Other aspects and advantages of the technology disclosed can be seen onreview of the drawings, the detailed description and the claims, whichfollow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to like partsthroughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarilyto scale, with an emphasis instead generally being placed uponillustrating the principles of the technology disclosed. In thefollowing description, various implementations of the technologydisclosed are described with reference to the following drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a system environment for a special purpose insurance program.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show examples of tables for entry of data thatproduce stack data structures (towers) as in FIGS. 4A-4B.

FIG. 3A shows an example single stem distribution tree in which thereinsurance is by proportional treaty, without status coding of theplacement.

FIG. 3B shows an example GUI interface used to enter and select displayof intermediary information.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate towers for coverage of MDCO, with details of EUINand SAIN quotes, respectively.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate towers for reinsurance of EUIN and SAIN,respectively.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example multi-stem distribution tree GUI, with alegend and a table of paths after entry of intermediary information.

FIG. 7 illustrates a geo-coded map of placement entities and channelscoded to depict placement status. Placement of reinsurance before therest of the placement in this map is indicated by coding of certainedges.

FIG. 8 shows a distribution tree example for placement of facultativereinsurance, without status coding of the placement. One of the markets,DEF, is either not reinsured or has not disclosed its reinsurance. Onenode, TBD, represents a request for quote (RFQ).

FIG. 9 shows an example tower for a 90 percent facultative reinsuranceof EUIN by EUSR.

FIG. 10 shows an example computer system adapted to produce the specialpurpose, user-modifiable, and interactive placement analysis and graphicdisplay disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is made with reference to thefigures. Sample implementations are described to illustrate thetechnology disclosed, not to limit its scope, which is defined by theclaims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a variety ofequivalent variations on the description that follows.

A detailed description of example implementations of the technologydisclosed is provided with reference to the FIGS. 1-10.

This disclosure begins with introductions to an industry and totechnology disclosed to transform operations, especially during planningand tracking of progress of a placement workflow. Two use cases aredescribed, each for two-tier planning and statusing of placements,differentiated primarily by the nature of the second tier. In the firstuse case, the second tier represents proportional reinsurance, alsoknown as treaty reinsurance. In the second case, the second tierrepresents facultative reinsurance. Practically, treaty reinsurance isusually in place before placement of first tier insurance, for a classof risks. Facultative reinsurance typically applies to a particularinsurance risk, and so the workflow for the second tier follows or runsin parallel with placement of the first tier insurance. Other channelsand sorts of two-tier placements are described, to which the technologydisclosed can readily be applied.

Introduction to Placement Workflows

The understanding and statusing of workflows involved in multi-tierplacements will benefit greatly from the new and unique user-modifiableand interactive visualizations disclosed, from both trees and geo-codedmaps of placement channels. Visualization of multi-tier placementchannels and workflow status as trees or geo-coded nodes has not beenattempted in the prior art, at least within these inventors' experience.

The multi-trillion dollar global property and casualty (P&C) insuranceindustry is called upon to handle the world's most challenging naturaland manmade risks—hurricanes, earthquakes, jumbo jets, supertankers, oildrilling platforms, pandemics, kidnap & ransom, terrorism, mass producttorts, cyber liability and countless others. These risks are covered bycommercial insurance policies issued each year to large corporations andby reinsurance contracts that spread risks undertaken by insurancecarriers. First tier policy holders sometimes purchase policies directlyfrom carriers, but most sizable commercial placements are handled byinsurance and reinsurance brokers, who possess the necessary expertiseto manage complex placement workflows. Brokers act as the agent of theinsured or reinsured to arrange insurance or reinsurance.

Many high-value or large-line risks exceed the capacity of a singleinsurance or reinsurance carrier. As a result, large-line risks arecommonly subdivided into multiple layers or shares for cession tomultiple, selected carriers, and assembled into a complex insuranceprogram that is designed to meet the buyer's risk management objectives.Already complicated by the involvement of multiple markets, theseplacements are made even more complex by a number of market factors thattend to increase transactional friction. For example, once a large buyerneeds to access global insurance capacity, the assigned, primary brokerwill require global distribution of placement. The primary broker relieson correspondent relationships with placing intermediaries in the U.S.,Bermuda, London, continental Europe, Asia and other dominant insurancemarkets. Global distribution raises intricate processing issues relatingto cross-currency and multi-lingual transactions in different timezones. As multiple markets respond to placement components, the brokermust organize, coordinate and interpret a surge of quotes and coverageterms transmitted by the interested markets. Throughout the placementworkflow, clients and brokers face relentless time pressure to placethese high-value risks in a timely manner lest a buyer suffer even theslightest lapse in coverage.

In recent years, many commercial brokers have discovered thattraditional insurance and reinsurance products can no longer fullysatisfy the largest-line coverage requirements. Seeking diversifiedcoverage for low-frequency, high-severity losses, such as losses causedby windstorms, earthquakes and other natural catastrophes, buyers areincreasingly turning to capital market capacity sources in the form ofcatastrophe bonds (CAT bonds), industry loss warranties (ILWs),catastrophe swaps and other insurance-linked securities (ILS) funded byinstitutional investors. A broker assembling a property catastrophereinsurance tower for a large insurance carrier, for example, will needto compare the performance of traditional reinsurance structures againstthese innovative capital market options.

Yet another issue for buyers is avoiding concentrating risk distributionin a single geographic area. In one implementation example, a prudentbuyer of earthquake insurance will consider the geographic locations ofinsurance providers, to address the possible correlation between riskdistribution and locus of risk.

In addition to brokers, buyers may also use the technology disclosed.For example, a first-tier buyer may decide to choose among offeringsfrom multiple brokers who place insurance. Reliance on multiple brokersrequires the buyer to communicate effectively and consistently with thebrokers. The buyer using the technology disclosed can benefit fromentering into a central repository one set of data that specifies theinsurance requirements to be utilized by all of the brokers offeringplacements. This central repository facilitates an apples-to-applescomparison of responses from multiple brokers.

In addition to brokers and buyers, placing brokers may also use thetechnology disclosed. A placing broker may face challenges in evaluatingand weighing key deal parameters as it receives and compilesquote-related data from the markets invited to participate in aplacement. For instance, the quotes may vary by credit rating andfinancial security of interested carriers; policy pricing;administrative complexity; and numerous other technical factors.

As the placement progresses, brokers conventionally rely on spreadsheetand tabular formats to compile transaction data, which they may send totheir clients for review and approval at key stages in the placementprocess. At critical decision stages (e.g., initial request for quote(RFQ); pre-binder client approval), the broker may prepare by hand sometype of a visual representation of the overall placement, such as alayer chart. This manual process of generating layer charts relies oncommon spreadsheet or presentation formats (e.g., Microsoft Excel orPowerPoint) or generic drawing tools. Buyers who purchase complexinsurance or reinsurance coverages directly from their chosen carriersfind the occasional placement process even more challenging than brokersdo. Brokers and buyers purchasing insurance have a limited ability tosketch out progress visualizations of placement. Only crude graphics,such as coverage layer charts, are typically used and even layer chartsare rarely prepared. For instance, a crude layer chart may be preparedby a broker on the eve on an important client meeting. Day to day,spreadsheets and emails tend to be the tools of choice.

Reliance on cumbersome manual methods restricts a broker's or buyer'scapacity and willingness to conduct a concurrent evaluation ofalternative placement strategies or re-structure a placement dynamicallyin response to shifting capacity availability or pricing opportunitiesin the global marketplace.

Introduction to Graphic Analysis Technology Disclosed

This application uses the terminology “stack data structure” to refer tothe entity that we called a “composite coverage structure” or “plantower structure” in the related application, “Database System and ObjectManipulation Representing Placement Layers and Parts,” incorporatedherein by reference.

Two risk transfer placement visualizations are disclosed, along with theunderlying data analysis required to generate them. We call the analysesand visualizations distribution trees and geo-coded maps of placementnodes. In the interest of conciseness, the examples below refer toinsurance and reinsurance as first and second tiers, but other profilesof risk transfer or ceding can benefit as much or more from applicationof the technology described. The same components, including datastructures, analyses and visualizations, apply to the non-traditionalrisk transfer instruments identified above.

The distribution trees can have one stem from a single root node, as inFIG. 3A, or multiple stems, as in FIG. 6. Each node in a tree representsan organization and/or actor(s). Nodes are connected by placementchannel edges that, in practice, are lines of communication. In theexamples shown, the distribution trees organize placement channels fromleft to right, from buyer optionally through intermediary(ies) tomarkets. Markets that cover risks for corporate clients often buyreinsurance, in a second tier of the distribution trees. In the singlestem FIG. 3A, insurers who buy reinsurance appear midway from left toright and begin the second tier of the distribution tree, which endswith reinsurers in this example. Optionally, data structures thatrepresent interrelationships among parts or other aspects of an overallrisk transfer profile (see related patent application) can be identified(e.g., 363, 326, 365, 624, 626, 634, 636, and 644) on the channelsbetween nodes on either a single or multi-stem diagram.

A multi-stem diagram can be used to provide a different view of multipletiers, to represent multiple lines of risk transfer for a single buyer,or to represent multiple buyers. In the multi-stem FIG. 6, some insurersappear both on the right, as sellers of insurance, and on the left asbuyers of reinsurance. The legend of FIG. 6 provides an example of howthe connections between nodes, the stems and branches of the trees canbe coded, with magnitude and status information. Viewing a distributiontree, even a newcomer to placement can quickly grasp the structure andstatus details of a placement effort.

The geo-coded maps (FIG. 7) show participating entities as nodes placedon a map in locations that correspond to their geographic locations.This provides an alternative visualization from the analyses used togenerate the distribution trees. The placement and communications flowcan be traced from a buyer node, such as MDCO 764 in South America,through intermediary(ies) to insurers (EUIN 736 and SAIN 766) and on toreinsurers (EUFR 745 and ASFR 769). For consistency, the magnitude andstatus coding shown in the legend of FIG. 6 can be applied to geo-codedmaps. An advantage of the geo-coded maps is that time zone differences,which impact communications among participants, can be made readilyapparent. In some geo-coded maps, the buyer node can be positioned torepresent the locus of a risk, rather than the location of the buyer'sinsurance department. The territory insured, such as South America, canbe visually emphasized by color coding (not shown) or a fill pattern,for instance.

Representation of intermediaries in these visualizations allows a viewerto identify and to gauge performance of the intermediaries from a singledisplay. Either distribution trees or geo-coded maps can represent bothreported status and calculated magnitudes/pricing of placements.Progress of individual brokers in obtaining proposals and in bindingcoverages can become immediately visible from status coding (e.g., thelegend of FIG. 6). The magnitudes of placements also can be coded onedges that connect nodes. Widths of edges can be coded relative to thestem, which represents the overall magnitude of the risk transfer.Branches of a completed placement will be no wider than the stem,because no part of the placement is greater than the whole. Whenover-subscriptions are available during placement, some branches couldbe displayed with greater width than the branch from which they emerge.Alternatively, price coded branches can represent the relative pricingof markets that are competing within a layer.

Tool tip information can be provided in response to a cursor rollingover a node or edge or in response to another control object (e.g.,gesture or finger touch) selecting a node or edge. Activating anintermediary node or an edge connecting a buyer to an intermediary, forinstance, can reveal a summary of the broker's projections, receivedproposals and/or proportion of the projection attained to date. Rollingover the market node or an edge connected to a market node can revealsupplemental information on a particular proposal, such as theinformation in the lower portions of object information tables 462, 466of the stack data structure representations in FIGS. 4A-4B. When a nodeis both a selling and buying entity or an intermediary with multipleroles, a roll over can reveal information concerning one or more roles,or it can reveal a summary of all the node roles. With this introductionin mind, we turn to the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates a multi-device system environment in which thetechnology disclosed can be practiced. In this application, systemrefers to software running on one or more apparatuses, rather thansystematic thought. The components illustrate one computer and networkimplementation. At least one data store 122 holds a variety of dataobjects. These objects include the composite coverage structure,coverage frame objects and attributes of these objects. Attributes ofobjects depend on the placement context. For instance, some of theattributes available to describe proportional treaty reinsurance in asecond tier will not apply to a first tier. The composite coveragestructure is also referred to as the stack data structure or the plantower structure. Objects representing aspects of the GUI (graphic userinterface) also can be persisted in the data store. GUI elements caninclude a canvas, palette, controls and information panels.

In some implementations, the data store can store information from oneor more visual workspaces into tables of a common database image to forman on-demand database service (ODDS), which can be implemented in manyways, such as a multi-tenant database system (MTDS). A database imagecan include one or more database objects. In other implementations, thedatabases can be relational database management systems (RDBMSs), objectoriented database management systems (OODBMSs), distributed file systems(DFS), no-schema database, or any other data storing systems orcomputing devices.

An input validator 143 receives data that populates attributes of theobjects. It validates the data and persists objects with attributes inthe data store 122. Input typically is received via a network 145 from auser computing device 185. The user computing device 185 runs at leastone application 195. Applications can be a browser, special purposeapplication, a spreadsheet, or an application used to complete forms.Data can be entered directly by a user using a GUI to the inputvalidator 143, or can be compiled, for instance in a spreadsheet,uploaded in bulk, and validated. Input data can be translated fromanother system or format.

Input is handled in various stages of interaction by request-proposalworkflow engine 158. As further explained below, some steps precedeothers, such as the request for quotation typically preceding a quote;or a lead quote typically preceding a following quote. Arequest-proposal workflow engine can track the status of outstandingrequests and maintain threads of related requests and proposals orquotes.

The data reporting engine 138 constructs the GUI to be transmitted fordisplay on the user computing device 185. One component analyzes datatables, constructs a graph (tree or geo-coded) that connects nodes,positions the nodes, calculates relative magnitudes of risk transferthrough channels, codes connecting edges with the calculated magnitudes,verifies placement status including past and approaching expirations,and codes connecting edges with current status including expirationwarnings.

Another component that can be used in the GUI is a report of objectscontained within the composite coverage structure, as described morefully in the related prior application. A composite coverage structure(stack data structure) aggregation engine 125 aggregates, summarizes andreports this information. GUI components are further described below.

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show examples of tables for entry of data thatproduce stack data structures (towers) as in FIGS. 4A-4B. The disclosedtechnology for analyzing and visualizing the status of complexinteractions and workflow includes a graphical user interface (GUI)usable to handle requests for quotes (RFQ), quotes, requests for leadquotes (RFLQ), lead quotes and following quotes, as described belowrelative to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C. Users can enter transaction requestsfrom buyers; responses, including quotes from markets; and can selectcoverage towers to view.

Use Case #1: Insurance and Proportional Treaty Reinsurance Placements

Proportional or treaty reinsurance refers to a type of reinsurance inwhich the reinsurer shares similar proportions of the premiums earnedand the claims incurred by the reinsured (the company that obtainsreinsurance coverage), plus certain associated expenses. For aproportional treaty reinsurance use case, some or all of the underlyingrisk is ceded to the reinsurer(s) by means of a treaty contract thatapplies to multiple risks within a given class. Under a treatyreinsurance contract, the reinsured agrees to offer and the reinsureragrees to accept all risks of certain size within a defined class. Undera treaty, coverage is applied categorically for a substantial portion ofsome aspect of a reinsured's business. That is, a proportional treatyprearranges sharing of risk between an insurance company and areinsurer. Treaty reinsurance can typically be obtained before aninsurer accepts risk, for example, from a corporate insured.

In one example, a corporation that is buying insurance secures workers'compensation coverage and general liability coverage for work on oilrigs. Because the magnitude of the workers' compensation risk perincident is relatively small, and no single catastrophic loss willtypically be incurred, a reinsurance treaty can be negotiated by theinsurer for policies covering oil rig operations, in anticipation ofrequests from buyers of insurance. Because the amount of money payableunder workers' compensation is well understood, terms can be readilynegotiated for a reinsurance treaty. In one example, the entirety of therisk assumed by the insurance carrier in writing a USD 1,000,000 peroccurrence, 100% share, USD 0 retention workers' compensation insurancepolicy can be entered into coverage entry tables, such as the tablesdescribed below, to evaluate the need for cession of some portion ofthis risk.

In another example, the insurance buyers for a large corporationMediaCo, Inc. (MDCO) determine that the corporation will require GBP100,000,000 per occurrence limit, 100% share, GBP 0 retention otherliability insurance coverage for the next account year, to be placed indiversified domestic and foreign markets. Due to the corporation'scapacity needs, the buyers and their intermediaries believe that therisk to be placed (RTBP) will not be assumed by a single insurancecarrier, and will therefore require placement of multiple, stackedcoverage layers, and will also possibly require placement of multipleshares within one or more of the stacked coverage layers. A request forquotes is issued, and brokers secure quotes and disclosures ofreinsurance contracts (bound proportional treaties). These quotes andcontracts can be entered into coverage entry tables as options forconsideration for the requested risk coverage.

FIG. 2A shows an example coverage entry table for Tower 33 200A withTower ID 33 212, Tower Name MDCO Int'l 213, and Buyer Name MediaCo, Inc.214 populated with data. Note that the data entry table 200A for Tower33 includes three pending proposals from EU Insurance, Ltd. 216; SAInsurance, Ltd. 217; and ABC, Inc. (ABC) 218. (These proposals arereflected in the distribution tree diagram of FIG. 3A and the towers ofFIGS. 4A-4B.) Example coverage entry table for Tower 74 200B includes abound quote for reinsurance buyer EU Insurance Ltd. 242 from EU First Re266 displayed in FIG. 2B. Example coverage entry table for Tower 75 200Cincludes a bound quote for reinsurance buyer SA Insurance Ltd. 282 fromAsia First-Re 286, displayed in FIG. 2C. In some example cases, apending proposal maintains that status for the period, for example 30days, during which the market contract is valid.

In some implementations, an example GUI can include a list of coveragetowers available to be selected for display and can include a “generategraph” icon (not shown) usable to request generation of a distributiontree or geo-coded map that illustrates the distribution of coverage forselected coverage towers.

Graphical Display of Risk Distribution

The first disclosed graphical display of risk distribution, implementedas a distribution tree, includes a visual display of the network of riskto potentially be assumed by multiple markets, optionally throughmultiple brokers. The distribution tree graphically displays riskdistribution through placement channels for multiple placements. Theexamples illustrated reflect two tiers of insurance. When multiplebrokers are involved in the first tier, such as a producing broker andone or more placing brokers, the analysis and visualization disclosedcan be useful even for just one risk transfer tier, as it is helpful tovisualize multiple intermediaries in a chain between the requesting andresponding entities.

Visual elements of the distribution tree can also represent multiplerisk placements in a multi-tiered data model of one or more requestingparties, multiple intermediaries, and multiple responding parties in afirst tier, with one or more of the responding parties that assume riskin the first tier being treated, in a second tier, as requesting partiesfor the cession of risk in the second tier. The data model tracks riskplacement parameters that specify amounts of risk ceded by at least someof first tier responding parties to second tier responding parties andtracks status of the risk placements in the first tier and in the secondtier.

FIG. 3A shows an example two-tier distribution tree with proportionaltreaty reinsurance covering risk transfer needs of corporation MDCO 361,using the pending and bound quotes listed in the coverage entry tablesin FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C. In this example, proposed coverage forthe first tier requesting party—buyer MDCO 361—is mapped to tower 33363, with the width of the path calculated and coded for representationas an edge in the tree. Buyers and markets are distributed in a left toright orientation, with buyers represented by nodes with a crosshatchedfill. FIG. 3A also shows markets, which are represented by nodes with ashaded fill. Example first-tier market ABC Inc. 218 is displayed as ABC325; example first-tier market EU Insurance, Ltd. 216 is displayed asEUIN 324; and example first-tier market SA Insurance, Ltd. 217 isdisplayed as SAIN 364.

Responding parties EUIN 324 and SAIN 364 in the first tier are treatedas requesting parties for the ceded risk in the second tier, and thedisclosed technology graphically displays these organizations in dualroles—first-tier insurance markets and second-tier reinsurancebuyers—representing them by nodes with outer shading fill and innercrosshatched fill. Brokers, including those displayed as EULB 323, 327,SPCL 353, MOS 354 and ASLB 356, are represented by nodes with horizontalfill. When the system, which includes one or more devices, is beingoperated by a broker, for example AllLines Brokerage, Inc. displayed asALL 322, the broker operating the system may be identified via an icondifferent from the ones in use for other brokers. This icondifferentiation can aid the system operator to readily locate their ownproposed or actual placements. The interactive visualizationsgraphically displayed by the disclosed technology are user-modifiable.For example, a user may add a broker to a placement channel, as shown inFIG. 3B.

FIG. 3B shows an example GUI interface used to enter and, in response touser-controlled inputs, to select the graphical display of intermediaryinformation, in this case adding new brokers to placement channels fortower 33 for buyer MDCO 361. Paths 372 is a table of policy contractinformation that includes add buttons 384 for triggering theuser-controlled option of adding up to three brokers for each individualpath, in the example shown. Paths running from buyer MDCO 361 throughoperating broker ALL 322 have market contracts with market coveragestatus pending to market EUIN 324 and to market SAIN 364, respectively.A path running from buyer MDCO 361 through broker MOS 354 has a marketcontract with market coverage status pending to market ABC 325.Producing broker SPCL 353 is also part of the path running from buyerMDCO 361 to market SAIN 364.

FIG. 2B shows an example coverage entry table for Tower 74 200B withTower ID 74 241 populated with data. Note that the data entry table 200Bfor Tower 74 includes an accepted proposal with proposal ID 76 262 fromEU First-Re (EUFR) 266 that includes a quote whose market coveragestatus is bound. In FIG. 3A Tower 74 326 is also shown as part of theplacement channel leading to second-tier market EUFR 328. FIG. 2C showsan example coverage entry table for Tower 75 200C with Tower ID 75 281populated with data. Note that the data entry table 200C for Tower 75includes an accepted proposal with proposal ID 77 285 from Asia First-Re(ASFR) 286 that includes a quote whose market coverage status is bound.In FIG. 3A Tower 75 365 is also shown as part of the placement channelleading to second-tier market ASFR 368. Optionally, towers and marketcontracts are represented by nodes with vertical fill (for example, 624and 626). Optionally, towers and market contracts are represented,respectively, by nodes with different, distinguishing fills (not shown),and optionally tower nodes and market contract nodes are included forcompleteness (for example, 624 and 626), but they could be omitted fromthe distribution tree.

Intermediaries are represented by intermediary nodes in a second regionadjoining the first region—ALL 322 and MOS 354 are some of theintermediary nodes in single stem FIG. 3A. Intermediary nodes aregraphically connected, directly or indirectly (for example, throughother intermediary nodes, such as EULB 323), by edges to the respondingparties' nodes to depict relationships between the intermediaries andrespective responding parties that communicate through theintermediaries. The requesting party nodes are also graphicallyconnected by edges to the intermediary nodes, directly or indirectly(for example, through other intermediary nodes, such as SPCL 353). Inthe example of FIG. 3A, MDCO 361 is the first-tier requesting party.Connections between buyers and towers are displayed as edges whosewidths, optionally, are proportional to the coverage amounts.Optionally, intermediary nodes are graphically connected indirectly torequesting party nodes through tower nodes (for example, Tower 33 (T33)363), and optionally intermediary nodes are graphically connectedindirectly to responding party nodes through market contract nodes (notshown), but tower nodes and market contract nodes could be omitted fromthe distribution tree. Another example distribution tree, describedinfra, further exemplifies visual elements of this multi-tiered datamodel.

FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate towers for coverage of MDCO, with details of EUINand SAIN quotes, respectively. FIG. 4A shows a tower representation ofthree quotes described in coverage entry table 200A in FIG. 2A forrequesting party MDCO. The portion of the tower for EUIN 422 is selected(highlighted), and the object information table 462 displays coveragespecifics for the EUIN proposal, including the proposal type (alsoreferred to as “Q-TYPE”) as “quote,” values for premium and marketpremium, etc. FIG. 4B shows object information for the SAIN proposal ina format similar to that described for the EUIN proposal in FIG. 4A;when SAIN is selected, object information table 466 displays coveragespecifics for the SAIN proposal. Related patent application Ser. No.14/689,674 includes a detailed description of the tower interface.

FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate towers for reinsurance of EUIN and SAIN,respectively. FIG. 5A shows a tower representation with insurer EUIN inthe role of buyer for reinsurance market EU First-Re (EUFR) 542.Similarly, FIG. 5B shows a proportional treaty tower for insurer SAINand reinsurer Asia First-Re (ASFR) 546.

The disclosed technology for graphically displaying distribution throughplacement channels for multiple placements makes it possible to improveoperations, especially during planning and tracking of progress in riskplacement. FIG. 6 shows an alternative, multi-stem graphical display ofa distribution tree for towers 33, 74 and 75 612, with visual elementsarranged to represent the same basic data as shown in FIG. 3A anddiscussed supra, optionally additionally showing status information andmarket contract nodes (626 and 636) as discussed supra, and optionallyadditionally showing currencies converted to GBP. For this datavisualization, EUIN 622, SAIN 632, and MDCO 642 are shown as buyers(nodes-with-crosshatch-fill) on the left side of the display, in a firstregion. Tower node T33 644 maps to three brokers in a second region:SPCL 645, MOS 646 and ALL 647. Tower node T74 624 maps to bound marketcontract MC 76 626, and Tower node T75 634 maps to bound market contractMC 77 636. Pending and bound market contracts are listed in the pathstable in the market contract column. Markets EUFR 628, ASFR 638, ABC648, EUIN 649 and SAIN 659 are readily visible as nodes-with-shaded-fillon the right side of the tree, in a third region, with each nodeassociated with a specific tower and either brokers or bound marketcontracts. That is, responding parties are depicted as responding partynodes in a third region adjoining the second region and spaced apartfrom the first region. In one example implementation, broker informationcan be added using the Add 664 selection in the Paths section of theuser interface. In some implementations, the addition of an added nodeto the data model of requesting parties, intermediaries, and respondingparties causes rearrangement of positions of the nodes in the data fordisplay without a user input specifying a location in the display wherethe added node should appear.

In FIG. 6, the widths of edges between nodes are coded to represent theproposed coverage amounts—depicting the relative size of the riskplacements through the intermediaries and with the responding parties.In addition to varying widths, edges between nodes can be coded torepresent other information using other means of visual differentiation,including varying line types, such as patterns and styles, and colors.In some implementations (not shown) both line types and colors (notshown) of edges can be used to represent proposal statuses and marketcoverage statuses. Because colors do not transfer well to the grayscalefigures, in the example shown in FIG. 6, proposal statuses and marketcoverage statuses are shown with varying line types, without usingcolor. In the example shown in FIG. 6, a relatively wide line,representing the coverage amount, is shown between MDCO 642 and tower 33644, as compared to the three branches emanating from tower 33 644through intermediary nodes to markets ABC 648, EUIN 649 and SAIN 659. Insome implementations (not shown), the system can color (not shown in thefigures as reproduced) and pattern edges (using, for example, otherpatterns than those shown) to code proposal and market coverage statusesof the risk placements through the brokers and with the markets. For theexample shown in FIG. 6, Legend 618 provides the key used for widthcoding of coverage amounts and for pattern coding of proposal status andmarket coverage status. Edges displayed as long dashes between Towernode 33 644 and the three brokers SPCL 645, MOS 646 and ALL 647 denotethat the proposal status is pending for each of the three policycontracts associated with Tower 33. The displayed long and short dashededges between the three brokers MOS 646, EULB 657 and ALL 647 and therespective markets ABC 648, EUIN 649 and SAIN 659 represent pendingmarket coverage statuses. The displayed very short dashed edges, forexample between MDCO 642 and tower 33 644, represent “not applicable”(N/A) proposal status and market coverage status. This graphicalrepresentation of buyers, brokers and markets produces the new result ofenabling a relatively inexperienced user to understand the channels andstatus of a placement. The advantage of calculating and presenting in aGUI a visualization of placement channels and status is visuallyapparent in FIG. 6, from introspective consideration of how relativelylittle effort it takes the viewer to understand the multi-stemdistribution tree, as compared to how much time is necessary to read andunderstand the table of paths 662 at the bottom of the figure.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3A, the distribution tree shows linksbetween indemnity tiers. Additionally, the distribution tree is usefulthroughout the risk placement contract cycle: the contract stage differscompared to the premium stage, and again differs when compared toanalyzing claims. In the contract stage, the distribution tree can makeit feasible to architect complex deals and follow through various stagesof the process, tracking capacity and determining premium distributionresponsibility. The distribution tree can also support engagementdirectly between a buyer and the market. In one example, concerns can beraised about the activities of a broker if all of their contracts arepending, when viewed on a distribution tree. In addition to coding ofcommunication status leading to placements, premium distribution can becoded on the edges. Either absolute premiums (total dollars) or premiumrates (e.g., dollars per thousand) can be coded on the width of a lineor made available when an edge or market node is selected. Coding can bescaled to the entire placement or to rates proposed within a particularlayer, among competing offers. This can be useful when comparingproposals in case of over-subscription or alternative markets. In theclaim stage, magnitudes of claim responsibility and status ofreimbursement can be coded on edges, following the principles andpatterns described above.

The geo-coded map, a location-based graphical display of global riskdistribution, serves as an additional tool for architecting complex riskplacement deals and following through various stages of the process ofdiversification of risk. In some use cases, placement channels may tracefrom a requestor's corporate office location to markets, as distinctfrom identifying a risk location. For other use cases, the requestor'srisk location may be the starting point of the node graph.

Global Redistribution of Risk to Geographically Designated RespondingParties

The disclosed technology includes geo-coded maps that graphically depicta global distribution of placement channels and entities involved.Multiple risk placements are represented in a multi-tiered data model ofone or more requesting parties, multiple intermediaries, and multipleresponding parties in a first tier. One or more of the respondingparties that assume risk are treated, in a second tier, as requestingparties for a ceded risk. The requesting parties, the multipleintermediaries, and the multiple responding parties are geographicallydesignated for their respective locations on a map.

In one example, markets under consideration can be shown graphically ona global map. Additionally, the status of proposals and market contractscan be overlaid onto a global map; and status and risks can be combinedin yet another graphical visualization.

FIG. 7 shows an example geo-coded map 700 with multiple risk placementoptions for covering the insurance needs of corporation MDCO 764, usingthe quotes listed in the coverage entry tables in FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B andFIG. 2C. Markets EUFR 745, ASFR 769, ABC 734, EUIN 736 and SAIN 766 arereadily visible as nodes. In one example implementation (not shown), thecountry or region might be highlighted with some graphical highlight toshow the principal territory of a buyer, broker or market, such aschanging the visual representation of South America to show that it isthe principal territory of MDCO 764.

Edge annotation data, generated for display, optionally codes line widthof the edges to depict relative size of the risk placements through theintermediaries and with the responding parties, and optionally codes theedges to depict statuses of the risk placements through theintermediaries and with the responding parties. The node and edge datafor display and the edge annotation data are available for display to auser device. That is, as for the distribution tree described supra, thewidth and patterns and, optionally color (not shown) for display of theedges between nodes of a geo-coded map are optionally coded to representthe proposed coverage amounts—with the width depicting the relative sizeof the risk placements through the intermediaries and with theresponding parties. Additionally, the width and patterns and, optionallycolor (not shown) for display of the edges are coded to representproposal and market coverage statuses of the risk placements throughbrokers and with the markets. Edges displayed as long dashes such asthose shown between MDCO 764 and broker MOS 735 denote that the proposalstatus is pending. Edges displayed as very short dashed edges, such asthose between broker SPCL 724 and broker ALL 725, denote that theproposal status and the market coverage status are “not applicable”(N/A). The displayed long and short dashed edges between brokers and therespective markets, for example those between MOS 735 and ABC 734,represent pending market coverage. The displayed solid edges betweeninsurers and reinsurers, for example the edge between SAIN 766 and ASFR769, denote bound market contracts. This graphical geo-coded maprepresentation of buyers, brokers and markets makes it possible toreadily view the physical locations for brokers being considered forinclusion in a particular risk placement. In one example, placement ofearthquake coverage can be confirmed to be at a geographic locationseparate from the location being insured, to ensure responsiveness toclaims in the event of an earthquake.

The data model tracks risk placement parameters that specify amounts ofrisk ceded by at least some of first tier responding parties to secondtier responding parties; and the data model tracks status of the riskplacements in the first tier and in the second tier. Node and edge dataare generated for display on a map that depicts multiple risk placementson behalf of at least one requesting party through intermediaries toresponding parties. In a first tier, a requestor geographic designationof the requesting party is depicted as a requesting party node on themap. At least two intermediaries are depicted as intermediary nodes onthe map. The requesting party node is graphically connected by edgeswith the intermediary nodes; at least two responding parties aredepicted as responding party nodes on the map; and the intermediarynodes are graphically connected by edges with the responding parties'nodes to depict relationships between the intermediaries and respectiveresponding parties who communicate through the intermediaries.

In some use cases, the requestor's geographic designation identifies acorporate office location without designating a risk location. For otheruse cases, the requestor's geographic designation designates a risklocation to which the risk placements apply.

The overall approach described for the proportional treaty distributionof risk can be applied in a variety of circumstances.

Use Case #2: Insurance and Facultative Reinsurance Placements

After the devastation caused by the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico,Better Petroleum needs to acquire insurance valued at USD 3,000,000,000per occurrence—to insure against accidents that may cause extensiveenvironmental damage. This coverage will need to be negotiated via aseparate reinsurance contract, under which the reinsured agrees to offerand the reinsurer agrees to accept this particular risk, which, at leastas an example, may be too large to be included under a treaty.

For this facultative reinsurance use case, some or all of the underlyingrisk is ceded to the reinsurer(s) by means of a separate negotiatedcontract, as opposed to one that is ceded under a reinsurance treaty.That is, the facultative reinsurance requires a separate contract. Dueto the corporation's large capacity needs, the broker reasonablyconcludes that the risk to be placed (RTBP) cannot (and should not) beassumed by a single insurance carrier, and will therefore requireplacement of multiple, stacked coverage layers, and will also possiblyrequire placement of multiple shares within one or more of the stackedcoverage layers. These multiple placements will diversify the risktransfer.

In one example, FIG. 8 illustrates a distribution tree example with afacultative reinsurance placement, without status coding of theplacement, covering the insurance needs of corporation MDCO 861. Itdisplays quotes and market contracts of Tower 39 822, Tower 68 826 andTower 69 865, with markets DEF, Inc. (DEF) 824, EUIN 825, SAIN 864, EUSR828, and SAFR 868. The technology disclosed optionally displays requestsfor quote (RFQ) and requests for lead quotes (RFLQ) as nodes; in thisexample, FIG. 8 also displays an RFQ, TBD 863. Responding parties EUIN825 and SAIN 864 in the first tier are treated as requesting parties forthe ceded risk in the second tier. Brokers ALL 862, EULB 823, 827, SPCL852 and MOS 866 are represented by nodes-with-horizontal-fill. AllLinesBrokerage, Inc. displayed as ALL 862, uses a different icon to signifythe broker operating the system, to aid the system operator to locateits proposed placements. Reinsurers EUSR 828 and SAFR 868 are marketsproviding reinsurance.

FIG. 9 shows example tower for a 90 percent facultative reinsurance 926of EUIN 922 by EUSR 952. This facultative reinsurance example shows atower representation for requesting party/buyer EUIN 825, 922, with acoverage proposal provided by reinsurer EUSR 828, 952. Objectinformation table 962 displays coverage specifics for the EUSR proposal,including the proposal type (also referred to as “Q-TYPE”) as “quote,”values for premium and market premium, etc.

The distribution tree and geo-coded map visualization tools disclosedenable users to more quickly comprehend the channels and status of acomplex placement. Automatically calculated and updated representationsof complex data, calculated and assembled from tables, are more readilyunderstood than the underlying tables. Automated analysis and productionof up-to-date visualizations allows a less experienced person tounderstand a placement more efficiently, more effectively, and with moreopportunities for user interaction than would be possible if such personfollowed the conventional practice of studying tables and reachingconclusions from tables of data.

Computer System

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example computer system 1000. FIG. 10is a block diagram of an example computer system, according to oneimplementation. The processor can be an ASIC or RISC processor. It canbe an FPGA or other logic or gate array. It can include graphicprocessing unit (GPU) resources. Computer system 1010 typically includesat least one processor 1072 that communicates with a number ofperipheral devices via bus subsystem 1050. These peripheral devices mayinclude a storage subsystem 1026 including, for example, memory devicesand a file storage subsystem, user interface input devices 1038, userinterface output devices 1078, and a network interface subsystem 1076.The input and output devices allow user interaction with computer system1010. Network interface subsystem 1076 provides an interface to outsidenetworks, including an interface to corresponding interface devices inother computer systems.

User interface input devices 1038 may include a keyboard; pointingdevices such as a mouse, trackball, touchpad, or graphics tablet; ascanner; a touch screen incorporated into the display; audio inputdevices such as voice recognition systems and microphones; and othertypes of input devices. In general, use of the term “input device” isintended to include all possible types of devices and ways to inputinformation into computer system 1010.

User interface output devices 1078 may include a display subsystem, aprinter, a fax machine, or non-visual displays such as audio outputdevices. The display subsystem may include a cathode ray tube (CRT), aflat-panel device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projectiondevice, or some other mechanism for creating a visible image. Thedisplay subsystem may also provide a non-visual display such as audiooutput devices. In general, use of the term “output device” is intendedto include all possible types of devices and ways to output informationfrom computer system 1010 to the user or to another machine or computersystem.

Storage subsystem 1026 stores programming and data constructs thatprovide the functionality of some or all of the modules and methodsdescribed herein. These software modules are generally executed byprocessor 1072 alone or in combination with other processors.

Memory subsystem 1022 used in the storage subsystem can include a numberof memories including a main random access memory (RAM) 1034 for storageof instructions and data during program execution and a read only memory(ROM) 1032 in which fixed instructions are stored. A file storagesubsystem 1036 can provide persistent storage for program and datafiles, and may include a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive along withassociated removable media, a CD-ROM drive, an optical drive, orremovable media cartridges. The modules implementing the functionalityof certain implementations may be stored by file storage subsystem 1036in the storage subsystem 1026, or in other machines accessible by theprocessor.

In some implementations, network(s) can be any one or any combination ofLocal Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), WiMAX, Wi-Fi,telephone network, wireless network, point-to-point network, starnetwork, token ring network, hub network, mesh network, peer-to-peerconnections like Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), Z-Wave,ZigBee, or other appropriate configuration of data networks, includingthe Internet.

Bus subsystem 1050 provides a mechanism for letting the variouscomponents and subsystems of computer system 1010 communicate with eachother as intended. Although bus subsystem 1050 is shown schematically asa single bus, alternative implementations of the bus subsystem may usemultiple busses.

Computer system 1010 can be of varying types including a workstation,server, computing cluster, blade server, server farm, or any other dataprocessing system or computing device. Due to the ever-changing natureof computers and networks, the description of computer system 1010depicted in FIG. 10 is intended only as one example. Many otherconfigurations of computer system 1010 are possible having more or fewercomponents than the computer system depicted in FIG. 10.

Particular Implementations

Some particular implementations and features are described in thefollowing discussion.

One implementation of the disclosed technology includes a method ofgraphically displaying distribution through placement channels formultiple placements, including representing multiple risk placements ina recursive data model of one or more requesting parties, multipleintermediaries, and multiple responding parties in a first tier, withone or more of the responding parties that assume risk being recursivelytreated as requesting parties in one or more subsequent tiers. Themethod also includes the data model tracking risk placement parametersthat specify amounts of risk being placed with responding parties and,recursively, reflecting ceding of risk from at least some of theresponding parties to subsequent tier responding parties. The methodfurther includes the data model tracking status of the risk placementsin the first tier; generating node and edge data for display thatdepicts multiple risk placements on behalf of at least one requestingparty through intermediaries to responding parties, wherein, in a firsttier: the requesting party is depicted as a requesting party node in afirst region; at least two intermediaries are depicted as intermediarynodes in a second region adjoining the first region; the requestingparty node is graphically connected by edges with the intermediarynodes; at least two responding parties are depicted as responding partynodes in a third region adjoining the second region and spaced apartfrom the first region; and the intermediary nodes are graphicallyconnected by edges with the responding party nodes to depictrelationships between the intermediaries and respective respondingparties who communicate through the intermediaries. The method furtherincludes generating edge annotation data for display, wherein the edgeannotation data codes line width of the edges to depict relative size ofthe risk placements through the intermediaries and with the respondingparties; and codes the edges to depict statuses of the risk placementsthrough the intermediaries and with the responding parties. The methodyet further includes transmitting the node and edge data for display andthe edge annotation data for display to a user device.

This method and other implementations of the technology disclosed caninclude one or more of the following features and/or features describedin connection with additional methods disclosed. In the interest ofconciseness, the combinations of features disclosed in this applicationare not individually enumerated and are not repeated with each base setof features. The reader will understand how features identified in thissection can readily be combined with sets of base features identified.

At least the first, second and third regions are arranged in columns.The method can also include representing status of the risk placementsby distinct annotations to edges coded to include statuses pending,accepted, expired, and not-taken-up. Also, the statuses pending,accepted, expired, and not-taken-up can be applied to the edgesconnecting the requesting parties to the intermediaries.

The method can include representing status of the risk placements bydistinct annotations to edges coded to include statuses pending,not-taken-up, authorized, and bound. Also, the statuses pending,not-taken-up, authorized, and bound can be applied to the edgesconnecting the intermediaries to the responding parties.

In some implementations, the method can further include representingurgency of events in the risk placements by distinct annotations toedges coded to indicate approach of a deadline within a predeterminedtime. For some implementations of the method at least one of theresponding parties in a second tier reinsures a responding party in thefirst tier and a reinsurance relationship is depicted by one or moreedges connecting the first tier responding party to the second tierresponding party reinsurer. The disclosed method can further includeresponding to user input requesting display of line width coding but notrisk placement status coding by suppressing display of the riskplacement status coding, and the method can also include responding touser input requesting display of risk placement status coding but not byline width coding by suppressing display of the line width coding.

One implementation includes a stack structure node between therequesting party and at least one intermediary, in which a stack datastructure corresponding to the stack structure node tracks dataregarding responding parties and their position among the multiple riskplacements, the stack structure node is depicted in the first or thesecond region, and the stack structure node is connected by edges to atleast one requesting party and to one or more intermediaries.

The disclosed technology can include node data for display which furtherincludes active links that, when selected, cause generation of a drilldown display that provides additional data for the selected node. Forsome implementations the disclosed method can include, upon addition ofan added node to the data model of requesting parties, intermediaries,and responding parties, causing rearrangement of positions of the nodesin the data for display without a user input specifying a location inthe display where the added node should appear.

For other implementations the method can further include alphabetizingnames of the intermediaries so that the intermediary nodes appear in analphabetical order in the second region. The method can further includealphabetizing names of the responding parties so that the respondingparty nodes appear in an alphabetical order in the third region.

In one implementation, the disclosed method includes depicting secondand subsequent tier nodes in fourth and subsequent regions outside theregions one, two and three. For some implementations, the edgeannotation data for display further includes coding edges in the firsttier to indicate status of handling at least one claim settlementbetween the requesting parties and the responding parties; and furtherincludes suppressing display of placement status data when the data fordisplay depicts claim settlement status.

The disclosed technology can include suppressing display of second andsubsequent tier nodes when the data for display depicts claim settlementstatus. For some implementations, the method can further includerepresenting in the data for display multiple lines of risk placementfor multiple types of insurance for a single requesting party.

One implementation of the disclosed technology includes a method offurther including two or more stack structure nodes between therequesting party and at least one intermediary; wherein a stack datastructure corresponding to a particular stack structure node stores dataregarding responding parties for one type of insurance and coverageprovided by the responding parties in the multiple risk placements;multiple stack data structures and stack structure nodes correspond tothe multiple lines of risk placement for multiple types of insurance;the stack data nodes are depicted in the first or the second region; andeach of the stack data nodes is connected by edges to at least onerequesting party and to one or more intermediaries.

For some implementations of the disclosed method there are at least tworequesting parties in the first tier. Additionally, for someimplementations, there are at least two intermediaries in the firsttier.

One implementation includes a method of graphically displayingdistribution through placement channels for multiple placements, themethod including representing multiple risk placements in a multi-tiereddata model of one or more requesting parties, multiple intermediaries,and multiple responding parties in a first tier, with one or more of theresponding parties that assume risk being treated, in a second tier, asrequesting parties for a ceded risk, wherein the data model tracks riskplacement parameters that specify amounts of risk ceded by at least someof responding parties to second tier responding parties; and the datamodel tracks status of the risk placements in the first tier. The methodalso includes generating node and edge data for display that depictsmultiple risk placements on behalf of at least one requesting partythrough intermediaries to responding parties, wherein, in a first tierthe requesting party is depicted as a requesting party node in a firstregion; at least two intermediaries are depicted as intermediary nodesin a second region adjoining the first region; the requesting party nodeis graphically connected by edges with the intermediary nodes; at leasttwo responding parties are depicted as responding party nodes in a thirdregion adjoining the second region and spaced apart from the firstregion; and the intermediary nodes are graphically connected by edgeswith the responding party nodes to depict relationships between theintermediaries and respective responding parties who communicate throughthe intermediaries. The method further includes generating edgeannotation data for display, wherein the edge annotation data codes linewidth of the edges to depict relative size of the risk placementsthrough the intermediaries and with the responding parties, and codesthe edges to depict statuses of the risk placements through theintermediaries and with the responding parties. Yet further, the methodincludes transmitting the node and edge data for display and the edgeannotation data for display to a user device.

One implementation includes a method of graphically displayinggeographic redistribution of risk through placement channels formultiple placements to geographically designated responding parties. Themethod includes representing multiple risk placements in a multi-tiereddata model of one or more requesting parties, multiple intermediaries,and multiple responding parties in a first tier, with one or more of theresponding parties that assume risk being treated, in a second tier, asrequesting parties for a ceded risk, wherein the requesting parties, themultiple intermediaries, and the multiple responding parties aregeographically designated for their respective locations on a map; thedata model tracks risk placement parameters that specify amounts of riskceded by at least some of responding parties to second tier respondingparties; and the data model tracks status of the risk placements in thefirst tier. The method also includes generating node and edge data fordisplay on a map that depicts multiple risk placements on behalf of atleast one requesting party through intermediaries to responding parties,wherein, in a first tier a requestor geographic designation of therequesting party is depicted as a requesting party node on the map; atleast two intermediaries are depicted as intermediary nodes on the map;the requesting party node is graphically connected by edges with theintermediary nodes; at least two responding parties are depicted asresponding party nodes on the map; and the intermediary nodes aregraphically connected by edges with the responding party nodes to depictrelationships between the intermediaries and respective respondingparties who communicate through the intermediaries. The method furtherincludes generating edge annotation data for display, wherein the edgeannotation data codes line width of the edges to depict relative size ofthe risk placements through the intermediaries and with the respondingparties; and codes the edges to depict statuses of the risk placementsthrough the intermediaries and with the responding parties. Yet further,the method includes transmitting the node and edge data for display andthe edge annotation data for display to a user device.

For some implementations of the disclosed method the requestorgeographic designation identifies a corporate offices location withoutdesignating a risk location. For some implementations of the disclosedmethod the requestor geographic designation designates a risk locationto which the risk placements apply.

In one implementation of the disclosed technology, a tangible computerreadable storage medium stores program instructions that implementactions for graphically displaying distribution through placementchannels for multiple placements. The implementation includesrepresenting multiple risk placements in a multi-tiered data model ofone or more requesting parties, multiple intermediaries, and multipleresponding parties in a first tier, with one or more of the respondingparties that assume risk being treated, in a second tier, as requestingparties for a ceded risk. For the implementation, the data model tracksrisk placement parameters that specify amounts of risk ceded by at leastsome of responding parties to second tier responding parties; and thedata model tracks status of the risk placements in the first tier;generates node and edge data for display that depicts multiple riskplacements on behalf of at least one requesting party throughintermediaries to responding parties, wherein, in both first and secondtiers the requesting party is depicted as a requesting party node in afirst region. Further, for the implementation, at least twointermediaries are depicted as intermediary nodes in a second regionadjoining the first region; the requesting party node is graphicallyconnected by edges with the intermediary nodes; the intermediary nodesare graphically connected by edges with the responding party nodes todepict relationships between the intermediaries and respectiveresponding parties who communicate through the intermediaries; and atleast one responding party from the first tier shown in the third regionis also shown as a requesting party from the second tier in the firstregion. Also, the disclosed implementation includes generating edgeannotation data for display, wherein the edge annotation data codes linewidth of the edges to depict relative size of the risk placementsthrough the intermediaries and with the responding parties; and codesthe edges to depict statuses of the risk placements through theintermediaries and with the responding parties; and transmitting thenode and edge data for display and the edge annotation data for displayto a user device.

Some implementations of the disclosed technology include, upon additionof an added node to the data model of requesting parties,intermediaries, and responding parties, causing rearrangement ofpositions of the nodes in the data for display without a user inputspecifying a location in the display where the added node should appear.Some implementations further include representing in the data fordisplay multiple lines of risk placement for multiple types of insurancefor a single requesting party. Some implementations also include two ormore stack structure nodes between the requesting party and at least oneintermediary; wherein a stack data structure corresponding to aparticular stack structure node stores data regarding responding partiesfor one type of insurance and coverage provided by the respondingparties in the multiple risk placements; multiple stack data structuresand stack structure nodes correspond to the multiple lines of riskplacement for multiple types of insurance; the stack data nodes aredepicted in the first or the second region; and each of the stack datanodes is connected by edges to at least one requesting party and to oneor more intermediaries.

Other implementations may include tangible computer-readable memoryincluding computer program instructions that cause a computer toimplement any of the methods described above. Yet another implementationmay include a system including memory and one or more processorsoperable to execute instructions, stored in the memory, to perform anyof the methods described above.

While the technology disclosed is disclosed by reference to thepreferred embodiments and examples detailed above, it is to beunderstood that these examples are intended in an illustrative ratherthan in a limiting sense. It is contemplated that modifications andcombinations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, whichmodifications and combinations will be within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tangible computer readable storage medium thatstores program instructions that, when executed on hardware, implementactions for graphically displaying distribution through placementchannels of multiple placements, the implementation including:representing multiple risk placements in a multi-tiered data model ofone or more requesting parties, multiple intermediaries, and multipleresponding parties in a first tier, with one or more of the respondingparties that assume risk being treated, in a second tier, as requestingparties for a ceded risk, wherein: the data model tracks risk placementparameters that specify amounts of risk ceded by at least some ofresponding parties to second tier responding parties; and the data modeltracks status of the risk placements in the first tier; generating nodeand edge data for display that depicts multiple risk placements onbehalf of at least one requesting party through intermediaries toresponding parties, wherein, in a first tier: the requesting party isdepicted as a requesting party node in a first region; at least twointermediaries are depicted as intermediary nodes in a second regionadjoining the first region; the requesting party node is graphicallyconnected by edges with the intermediary nodes; at least two respondingparties are depicted as responding party nodes in a third regionadjoining the second region and spaced apart from the first region; andthe intermediary nodes are graphically connected by edges with theresponding party nodes to depict relationships between theintermediaries and respective responding parties who communicate throughthe intermediaries; further generating edge annotation data for display,wherein the edge annotation: calculates magnitudes or pricing of therisk placements and scales line width of the edges through theintermediaries and with the responding parties based on calculatedmagnitudes or pricing; and codes the edges to depict statuses of therisk placements through the intermediaries and with the respondingparties; and transmitting the node and edge data and the edge annotationdata for display to a user device.
 2. The tangible computer readablestorage medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the respondingparties in a second tier reinsures a responding party in the first tierand a reinsurance relationship is depicted by one or more edgesconnecting the first tier responding party to the second tier respondingparty reinsurer.
 3. The tangible computer readable storage medium ofclaim 1, further including responding to user input requesting displayof line width coding, but not risk placement status coding, bysuppressing display of the risk placement status coding.
 4. The tangiblecomputer readable storage medium of claim 1, further includingresponding to user input requesting display of risk placement statuscoding, but not by line width coding, by suppressing display of the linewidth coding.
 5. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim1, further including, upon addition of an added node to the data modelof requesting parties, intermediaries, and responding parties, causingrearrangement of positions of the nodes in the data for display withouta user input specifying a location in the display where the added nodeshould appear.
 6. The tangible computer readable storage medium of claim1, further including representing in the data for display multiple linesof risk placement for multiple types of insurance for a singlerequesting party.
 7. The tangible computer readable storage medium ofclaim 1, further including two or more stack structure nodes between therequesting party and at least one intermediary; wherein: a stack datastructure corresponding to a particular stack structure node stores dataregarding responding parties for one type of insurance and coverageprovided by the responding parties in the multiple risk placements;multiple stack data structures and stack structure nodes correspond tothe multiple lines of risk placement for multiple types of insurance;the stack data nodes are depicted in the first or the second region; andeach of the stack data nodes is connected by edges to at least onerequesting party and to one or more intermediaries.
 8. The tangiblecomputer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein there are at leasttwo requesting parties in the first tier.
 9. A method of graphicallydisplaying distribution through placement channels for multipleplacements, the method including: representing multiple risk placementsin a recursive data model of one or more requesting parties, multipleintermediaries, and multiple responding parties in a first tier, withone or more of the responding parties that assume risk being recursivelytreated as requesting parties in one or more subsequent tiers, wherein:the data model tracks risk placement parameters that specify amounts ofrisk being placed with responding parties and, recursively, reflectceding of risk from at least some of the responding parties tosubsequent tier responding parties; and the data model tracks status ofthe risk placements in the first tier; generating node and edge data fordisplay that depicts multiple risk placements on behalf of at least onerequesting party through intermediaries to responding parties, wherein,in a first tier: the requesting party is depicted as a requesting partynode in a first region; at least two intermediaries are depicted asintermediary nodes in a second region adjoining the first region; therequesting party node is graphically connected by edges with theintermediary nodes; at least two responding parties are depicted asresponding party nodes in a third region adjoining the second region andspaced apart from the first region; and the intermediary nodes aregraphically connected by edges with the responding party nodes to depictrelationships between the intermediaries and respective respondingparties who communicate through the intermediaries; further generatingedge annotation data for display, wherein the edge annotation data:codes line width of the edges to depict relative size of the riskplacements through the intermediaries and with the responding parties;and codes the edges to depict statuses of the risk placements throughthe intermediaries and with the responding parties; and transmitting thenode and edge data for display and the edge annotation data for displayto a user device.
 10. The method of claim 9, further includingrepresenting status of the risk placements by distinct annotations toedges coded to include statuses pending, accepted, expired, andnot-taken-up.
 11. The method of claim 9, further including representingstatus of the risk placements by distinct annotations to edges coded toinclude statuses pending, not-taken-up, authorized, and bound.
 12. Themethod of claim 9, further including a stack structure node between therequesting party and at least one intermediary, wherein a stack datastructure corresponding to the stack structure node tracks dataregarding responding parties and their position among the multiple riskplacements, the stack structure node is depicted in the first or thesecond region, and the stack structure node is connected by edges to atleast one requesting party and to one or more intermediaries.
 13. Themethod of claim 9, further including depicting second and subsequenttier nodes in fourth and subsequent regions outside the regions one, twoand three.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the edge annotation datafor display further includes coding edges in the first tier to indicatestatus of handling at least one claim settlement between the requestingparties and the responding parties; and further including suppressingdisplay of placement status data when the data for display depicts claimsettlement status.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein there are at leasttwo intermediaries in the first tier.
 16. The method of claim 9, furtherincluding a non-transitory computer readable storage medium impressedwith computer program instructions that, when executed on a processor,implement the method of claim
 9. 17. The method of claim 9, furtherincluding a device that includes at least one processor, memory coupledto the processor, and program instructions stored in the memory toimplement the method of claim
 9. 18. A method of graphically displayingdistribution through placement channels for multiple placements, themethod including: representing multiple risk placements in amulti-tiered data model of one or more requesting parties, multipleintermediaries, and multiple responding parties in a first tier, withone or more of the responding parties that assume risk being treated, ina second tier, as requesting parties for a ceded risk, wherein: the datamodel tracks risk placement parameters that specify amounts of riskceded by at least some of responding parties to second tier respondingparties; and the data model tracks status of the risk placements in thefirst tier; generating node and edge data for display that depictsmultiple risk placements on behalf of at least one requesting partythrough intermediaries to responding parties, wherein, in a first tier:the requesting party is depicted as a requesting party node in a firstregion; at least two intermediaries are depicted as intermediary nodesin a second region adjoining the first region; the requesting party nodeis graphically connected by edges with the intermediary nodes; at leasttwo responding parties are depicted as responding party nodes in a thirdregion adjoining the second region and spaced apart from the firstregion; and the intermediary nodes are graphically connected by edgeswith the responding party nodes to depict relationships between theintermediaries and respective responding parties who communicate throughthe intermediaries; further generating edge annotation data for display,wherein the edge annotation data: codes line width of the edges todepict relative size of the risk placements through the intermediariesand with the responding parties; and codes the edges to depict statusesof the risk placements through the intermediaries and with theresponding parties; and transmitting the node and edge data for displayand the edge annotation data for display to a user device.
 19. A methodof graphically displaying geographic redistribution of risk throughplacement channels for multiple placements to geographically designatedresponding parties, the method including: representing multiple riskplacements in a multi-tiered data model of one or more requestingparties, multiple intermediaries, and multiple responding parties in afirst tier, with one or more of the responding parties that assume riskbeing treated, in a second tier, as requesting parties for a ceded risk,wherein: the requesting parties, the multiple intermediaries, and themultiple responding parties are geographically designated for theirrespective locations on a map; the data model tracks risk placementparameters that specify amounts of risk ceded by at least some ofresponding parties to second tier responding parties; and the data modeltracks status of the risk placements in the first tier; generating nodeand edge data for display on a map that depicts multiple risk placementson behalf of at least one requesting party through intermediaries toresponding parties, wherein, in a first tier: a requestor geographicdesignation of the requesting party is depicted as a requesting partynode on the map; at least two intermediaries are depicted asintermediary nodes on the map; the requesting party node is graphicallyconnected by edges with the intermediary nodes; at least two respondingparties are depicted as responding party nodes on the map; and theintermediary nodes are graphically connected by edges with theresponding party nodes to depict relationships between theintermediaries and respective responding parties who communicate throughthe intermediaries; further generating edge annotation data for display,wherein the edge annotation data: codes line width of the edges todepict relative size of the risk placements through the intermediariesand with the responding parties; and codes the edges to depict statusesof the risk placements through the intermediaries and with theresponding parties; and transmitting the node and edge data for displayand the edge annotation data for display to a user device.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the requestor geographic designationidentifies a corporate offices location without designating a risklocation.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the requestor geographicdesignation designates a risk location to which the risk placementsapply.
 22. The method of claim 19, further including a non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium impressed with computer programinstructions that, when executed on a processor, implement the method ofclaim
 19. 23. The method of claim 19, further including a device thatincludes at least one processor, memory coupled to the processor, andprogram instructions stored in the memory to implement the method ofclaim
 19. 24. A tangible computer readable storage medium that storesprogram instructions that, when executed on hardware, implement actionsof graphically displaying distribution through placement channels formultiple placements, the implementation including: representing multiplerisk placements in a multi-tiered data model of one or more requestingparties, multiple intermediaries, and multiple responding parties in afirst tier, with one or more of the responding parties that assume riskbeing treated, in a second tier, as requesting parties for a ceded risk,wherein: the data model tracks risk placement parameters that specifyamounts of risk ceded by at least some of responding parties to secondtier responding parties; and the data model tracks status of the riskplacements in the first tier; generating node and edge data for displaythat depicts multiple risk placements on behalf of at least onerequesting party through intermediaries to responding parties, wherein,in both first and second tiers: the requesting party is depicted as arequesting party node in a first region; at least two intermediaries aredepicted as intermediary nodes in a second region adjoining the firstregion; the requesting party node is graphically connected by edges withthe intermediary nodes; the intermediary nodes are graphically connectedby edges with the responding party nodes to depict relationships betweenthe intermediaries and respective responding parties who communicatethrough the intermediaries; and at least one responding party from thefirst tier shown in the third region is also shown as a requesting partyfrom the second tier in the first region; further generating edgeannotation data for display, wherein the edge annotation data: codesline width of the edges to depict relative size of the risk placementsthrough the intermediaries and with the responding parties; and codesthe edges to depict statuses of the risk placements through theintermediaries and with the responding parties; and transmitting thenode and edge data for display and the edge annotation data for displayto a user device.
 25. The tangible computer readable storage medium ofclaim 24, further including, upon addition of an added node to the datamodel of requesting parties, intermediaries, and responding parties,causing rearrangement of positions of the nodes in the data for displaywithout a user input specifying a location in the display where theadded node should appear.
 26. The tangible computer readable storagemedium of claim 24, further including representing in the data fordisplay multiple lines of risk placement for multiple types of insurancefor a single requesting party.
 27. The tangible computer readablestorage medium of claim 24, further including two or more stackstructure nodes between the requesting party and at least oneintermediary; wherein: a stack data structure corresponding to aparticular stack structure node stores data regarding responding partiesfor one type of insurance and coverage provided by the respondingparties in the multiple risk placements; multiple stack data structuresand stack structure nodes correspond to the multiple lines of riskplacement for multiple types of insurance; the stack data nodes aredepicted in the first or the second region; and each of the stack datanodes is connected by edges to at least one requesting party and to oneor more intermediaries.